THERESA May’s demands for Britain to play a full role in the EU as it prepares to leave have sparked anger in Brussels.

Mrs May was afforded just moments to talk to the leaders, after lengthy discussions over dinner about Russia, Syria and EU trade.

She told EU leaders Britain must not be shut out of discussions that affect all 28 members while it is still part of the bloc.

Britain cannot enter detailed discussion on Brexit until Article 50 is officially triggered, which the Prime Minister has said will begin by the end of next March.

However, referring to the ongoing migration crisis, Mrs May said: "All countries have the rights to control their borders. We will be working more closely with transit countries to return migrants who have no right to stay."

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The Prime Minister has entered into an explosive argument with Donald Tusk

Mrs May, who voted to remain in the EU, has emphatically stood up to all the EU leaders by saying she will not rubber stamp any agreement the Brussels bloc makes unless Britain was present during negotiations.

The Prime Minister is meeting in Brussels with the 27 other EU member nations as part of a tense leaders’ summit.

She has reportedly been snubbed by Mr Tusk who has not invited Britain to take part in a summit in Bratislava in September.

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The summit has been the first time Mrs May has addressed all of the leaders since Brexit

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The Prime Minister has faced a series of hard talks over Britain's future relationship with the EU

Yesterday's meeting of EU leaders was the Theresa May's first opportunity to address the leaders of all the other member states since the UK voted to leave the European Union in June, and used the meeting as an opportunity to say there was no going back on Brexit.

Mrs May said: “This is the first meeting of the EU and the UK since Brexit.

“Britain will continue to play a full role until we leave in the interests of the UK and the EU."

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Mrs May attended the first EU Council meeting since June's momentous Brexit vote

“We will also be a strong and dependable partner after we leave.”

But French President Francois Hollande warned the Prime Minister would face "hard" talks with other EU members as she moves towards a "hard Brexit".

However discussions over trade, Russia and its intervention in Syria were higher on the bloc's agenda.

Members are frantically trying to save the EU's trade deal with Canada which is being stalled in the Walloon parliament in Belgium.

And with Syria on the agenda, the Prime Minister used the Brussels summit to call for tougher sanctions to be imposed on Russia for its devastating airstrikes on the country.

Speaking today she said: "I agreed with Angela Mrkel and Francois Hollande among others on calling on the Syrian regime and Russia to stop attacks on Aleppo and we will consider all options if it continues."

EU summit 2016: EU leaders meet

Fri, October 21, 2016

EU Leaders meet to discuss migration, trade and Russia, including its role in Syria, it will be also the first summit attended by new British Prime Minister Theresa May.

Italy's Prime minister Matteo Renzi (L) speaks with Luxembourg's Prime minister Xavier Bettel during the second day of an European Union leaders summit

She warned supporters of Bashar al-Assad must be penalised for causing civilian casualties during efforts to prop up the controversial Syrian leader, as the leaders wrangled over how to respond to Russia's bombing of Aleppo.

She said: "We must show a united and robust European stance in the face of Russian aggression.

“The UK has put Russian actions in Syria on the agenda for this summit. We must continue to work together and it’s vital that we work together to continue to put pressure on Russia to stop its appalling atrocities, its sickening atrocities in Syria.”